Author's Note: Full points to anyone who sees this coming... Couldn't resist... Triangles are one of my favourite 2D shapes :-)

As always, shout out to Musical Medli! Thanks for the support, much appreciated. Now for the rest of you... don't be shy! Reviews, favs and follows welcome 24/7... :-)

Chapter 27: This wasn't part of the plan!

Lennox P.O.V

''Really? You did what?'' I felt my eyebrows raise in disbelief as OC's voice drifted down the phone line to me. ''HOW?'' I burst out in shock, the pen pausing in its familiar scrawl across the page. Glancing around the room I checked to see if anyone was in earshot. Lowering my voice, I whispered into the phone. ''The dude is like thirty feet tall. How the fuck did you get close enough to plant a kiss on his cheek?'' I shifted the phone from one ear to the other as I continued to sign some forms at my desk.

There was a pause at the other end of the line. ''OC? Hello?'' She muttered something quickly. I felt my brow crease in confusion. ''What the hell do you mean that's not important? I beg to differ.'' I grabbed the next form and scribbled my initials beside the appropriate box. I rolled my eyes as she shut me down and ploughed on with her description of what had happened after Jazz and I had left. ''Fine, fine, whatever!'' I shook my head, a strange feeling gnawing away at me as I listened to her animated explanations. ''You really stepped it up, didn't you?'' I sighed out loud. ''By the way, you're welcome!''

I rose to my feet, phone in hand as I pushed the chair back and moved to place the forms in the appropriate folder on the cabinet by the door. ''What do you mean for what?'' I huffed in offence. ''If it hadn't been for MY flirtatious displays with you, you wouldn't have had the gumption to do what you did with Prime, ergo being in the position to kiss him, ergo you're welcome!''

I trudged back to my desk and flopped down. I suddenly felt lethargic and heavy, like a weight had settled on me. I rubbed my temple before my eyes bulged in shock as OC continued in her explanation of what happened after she kissed him. 'Are you serious?'' I whispered into the phone incredulously. ''You mean to tell me, THE Optimus Prime, the stoic, unflappable, ever calm leader of the Autobots missed a shot when you kissed him?'' I sat back in my chair and snorted out loud. ''Well, what does THAT tell you OC?''

A weak smile formed on my lips as I listened to her giddy schoolgirl laughter. /She really does love the Big Guy/. ''Well, from my point of view, it tells me that maybe you're in with a chance Kiddo.'' The smile spread as I listened to her snarky reply. ''Hey, you need me to help you with your little issue OC. I'll call you kiddo if I bloody well want, okay?''

I leaned forward and grabbed my iced coffee from my desk, taking a quick gulp. Having had so many hot coffees go cold, I figured I'd give these a try, and haven't looked back since. ''So, I'm curious.'' I placed the drink down and leaned back in my chair. ''How did he react when you somehow managed to kiss him?''

There was a brief silence on the other end of the phone as she was clearly recalling the moment. I looked around to see if there was anybody nearby. No one. I took a deep breath and put the phone on speaker. ''To be honest Lennox, at first, I thought he was gonna tear me a new one! He looked all riled up and he was just almost glaring at me, ya know?'' OC's voice drifted through the speakers, and I found myself staring fondly down at the screen.

I laughed. ''Yeah well, think about it OC. You had just bet him that he couldn't stay focused and land all his shots and, you kinda played dirty to see that he didn't. This is Prime we are talking about here, ''Mr. Play by the Book'' himself. He was probably annoyed by the way you did it more so than by what you did.''

There was a thoughtful silence. ''Yeah, you're probably right Lennox. But…'' I could picture her worrying her lower lip and I smiled. ''I just couldn't help it.'' She chuckled down the line. ''I was upping the ante.''

I laughed in reply. ''Gee. I wonder what gave you that idea?'' I leaned closer to the phone, to her. ''So. What happened then? Did he tell you off?'' I was genuinely interested, even though I also didn't want to know.

OC gave a loud sigh. ''It was kinda hot and kinda just biazzare Lennox.''

I raised an eyebrow. ''Kinda hot AND bizarre? Spill it!''

''Well, after he first turned around, all pissed off, his eyes seemed to search my face wildly before they locked onto my lips and he…'' OC paused a moment a nervous giggle travelling down the line as she seemed suddenly embarrassed to be talking about this with me.

''Come on OC! Out with it, this is me you're talking to,'' I picked up the phone and brought it towards my face as if I could somehow coax her.

''Lennox, I swear he was leaning towards me as if he was going to kiss me in return. I was about to grab his head and pull him towards me so I could..''

''How the fuck could you pull Prime's head towards you OC?'' I spat incredulously down the phone.

''Lennox!'' her voice dropped to a low and aggravated tone.

I rolled my eyes. ''I know, I know. Not important.'' I rubbed my forehead in frustration. ''So, if that was the hot part, how was it bizarre?''

There was a resigned groan from her end of the line. ''Well, he kind of froze up, blinked his eyes rapidly and then just backed away from me. He told me that he stood corrected on the matter and then handed me the gun saying he had to get going straight away, he had a meeting with the JCS shortly and he wanted to be prepared.''

I could hear the confusion and frustration in her voice, but I had a large smile on my face. I snorted softly down the line. ''OC. Prime does have a meeting with the JCS – but not for another three hours.''

There was silence.

''So… so Prime….'' Her voice was hesitant yet filled with barely restrained excitement.

I nodded. ''Yep. Prime freaked out. He was making an excuse to leave OC.'' I smiled warmly at my friend. ''You clearly had an effect on him.''

There was a breathy laugh on the other end as OC considered my words, clearly pleased with herself. ''Wait a minute!'' Her tone changed almost immediately to one of concern. ''That's not good Lennox. As you said, this is Prime we are talking about! For him to basically make an excuse like that just so he could avoid me..'' he voice became tremulous as she continued, ''what… what if I've gone too far? What if I've really offended him?''

I held the phone right up to my mouth. ''OC! Calm down! Back it up a second will ya!'' I exhaled. ''Jesus girl, you could give someone whiplash with how quick you change your mood.''

''Lennox!'' there was an almost desperate groan from her. ''I'm sorry to be all Jekyll and Hyde, but I'm kind of freaking out here. Little help?''

''Alright, alright! Listen,'' I placed the phone on the desk before me and steepled my hands above it. ''Give the bot a chance. You have just crossed a physical boundary between the pair of you,'' I snorted, ''not to mention species boundary. You have just done something to him that I wager has not had happen for millions of years.'' Again, there was silence as she processed my arguments. I smiled sadly at the phone, wishing I could be hugging her right now. ''And as we both know; Prime is a very private bot who errs on the conservative side of demonstrative displays with everyone..''

''But he has been demonstrative with me Lennox, quite a few times,'' OC's voice interrupted, carrying within it a mild annoyance.

I smiled again. ''OC, placing one of his digits under your chin or holding you in the palm of his hand is not on the same level as kissing. Even if it was just a very chaste brush of the lips on his cheek. It is a whole new level of intimacy and one he clearly needs to process.''

OC groaned out loud. ''I shouldn't have done it! I am too impulsive and competitive and now look where it has gotten me!''

''Oh, I'm not going to argue with you on those two points!'' I stirred her. ''However, I do think you should have done it, if only to see how he responds.''

''How so Lennox?''

I picked the phone up again and brought it to my lips. ''Face it OC. If he seems cool with it and is still openly affectionate with you, or even more so, then I'd say you have the green light to let him know of your interest in a romantic relationship with him.'' I paused. ''If he shuts down and starts to avoid YOU. Then I'd say you have the less appealing answer that he does not see you that way.''

Again silence.

''Either way, as you said, you could no longer do nothing. You had to jump and hope you flew. I guess now we find out if you're about to crash and burn.''

OC snorted derisively down the line. ''Do me a solid Lennox and have the paramedics on standby will you?''

''Wow, someone is confident.'' I laughed.

''More realistic I'd say,'' I could hear the denigrating tone in her voice.

My chest rose and fell as I exhaled deeply. ''Look OC. Someone is either worth going out on a limb for, worth putting yourself in a position to look stupid or they're not. It's simple. You said yourself Prime was worth it. Did you mean that?''

''Of course I did Lennox! And he is,'' OC burst out almost angrily. ''Prime is…''

I held up a hand to preempt the swooning. ''Woah! You don't need to rattle off his virtues again OC, I know the dude.'' I smirked. ''Maybe not as well as you, but I know he's a good guy – so to speak.''

OC chuckled and exhaled, no doubt trying to expel her pent-up worries and fears. ''Thanks Lennox. You're right. About everything..''

''Ahh, can I have that in writing OC?'' I goaded.

''Don't push it mate,'' she warned before she broke into another chuckle. I closed my eyes as I listened to her. I loved the playful banter between us. /It's what we do/. ''Anyway, I better get going. Let you get on with whatever you were doing. Organising to save the world and what not.'' Her teasing tone was back.

''Yes, I am a very important man OC,'' I replied in a commanding voice.

''You are to me anyway Lennox,'' her voice was soft and filled with warmth.

I froze, not expecting to hear such a sincere comment from her. My mouth worked silently for a moment before I scoffed at her. ''Ha, yeah, sure. You're just..''

''No. I'm not. You are very important to me and, despite our carry on and all the shit we hang on each other,'' OC laughed before she sobered again, ''your friendship means the world to me. I know I don't say it often enough, so thanks Lennox. Thanks for being my friend and always being there for me.''

I was stunned and I was torn. I nodded my head silently as I stifled a groan. ''Yeah, back at you. I'm kind of fond of you too OC.'' I closed my eyes and placed my head in my free hand.

''Yeah! '' OC laughed once more. ''I'm special, I know.''

I snorted at her tongue in cheek comment. ''You are indeed that OC.'' I ran my hand through my hair and scratched my head, suddenly feeling awkward at the unexpected and rather heartfelt comments she threw my way. ''Um, ''I'll catch you later. Better go.''

''See ya Lennox!'' And with that, the line went dead, and I was left sitting silently on my chair.

I stared at my phone screen for a moment more, where her name and number had appeared moments before. I replayed her conversation in my head, recalled how she seemed to light up when she spoke about Prime. Heard the desperation in her voice and the need to love him and be loved by him and I was suddenly taken with an emotion I did not think I would ever feel when it came to OC.

/Jealousy/.

I placed the phone on my desk and slowly sank back into my chair, sprawling my legs out before me and placing my hands on my face. I closed my eyes and groaned. /This was not part of the plan Lennox you dick!/. I had always liked OC. There was always a playful, teasing banter between us but also a mutual respect and affection. She was cool to hang out with, and the more time I had spent in her company these past few weeks, the more I came to realise how much I enjoyed just being with her.

I groaned out loud again as I recalled the shooting range earlier today and my interactions with OC. The way her hair smelled as I leaned in beside her, the feel of her body next to mine, that heat between us. Her soft skin as my lips grazed her ear and cheek and the way she bit her lower lip as she looked at me. I growled and sprang to my feet, shoving my chair back roughly as I leant forward and grasped the edge of my desk.

I knew it was all a show for Prime, to try and make him jealous and realise he had feelings for OC. Our little project ''Operation Green Eyed Monster'' was indeed working. I gave a sardonic chuckle as I muttered under my breath. ''Trouble is, it appears to be working on me!''

/But you're not the one she wants Lennox. Don't think she would ever see you that way. You're just a mate/.

I rubbed my hands over my face as I ground my teeth together in irritation at myself. The irony of the situation I was rapidly descending into was not lost on me and I had to shake my head in frustrated amusement as I turned my desk light off and prepared to head out of the hanger.

/I'm not going to say anything to her, no point. If by some chance things don't work out with her and Prime…/, I allowed a small grin to tug at the corners of my mouth as I walked out of Hanger 1. ''Then I'll cross that bridge when I get to it. If I get to it.''